Peruvians protest against American sponsored Conga mining project

People shout slogans during a protest against US Conga mining project in Cajamarca on July 9, 2012.

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Peruvian riot police have clashed with angry environmental activists and local residents, protesting against an American multi-billion dollar mining project in the country’s capital city of Lima.
On Thursday thousands of Peruvian students joined the anti-mining activists and rural residents to protest against the Conga mining project by the American Newmont Corporation in the north of the country.
On the same day, the Peruvian General Confederation of Workers called for a “national day of protest” to protest against the Conga project plans to dry at least four lagoons to extract gold and copper from subsoil in Cajamarca city, some 800 kilometers north of Lima.
The protesting local residents argue that they are being left behind the country’s vast economic resources.
The Conga gold mine is considered as the South American country’s biggest mine ever.
Last week, at least five protesters including a 17-year-old national lost their lives and 20 others were injured as the demonstrations during deadly clashes with security forces.
The incident has put President Ollanta Moisés Humala Tasso, under intense pressure to fire the prime minister and the interior minister of the country for their harsh handling of the protests.
Earlier this month, hundreds of infuriated protesters attacked the government buildings in the town of Celendin, arguing that the US-sponsored project will destroy water supplies of the region.
The incident prompted the authorities to declare a 30-day state of emergency in three provinces, including: Celendin, Hualgayoc and Cajamarca.
MY/JR